Supporting Reference

CCDC 24, Model Forms Guide for the ExAC

CCDC 24 (2016) is the Canadian Construction Documents Committee's Guide to Model Forms and Support Documents for use with CCDC 2. Examitect treats it as a primary reference for four Section 4 objectives covering bidding procedures, contractor prequalification, and the construction office functions an architect performs during the build.

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CCDC 24 overview

CCDC 24 at a glance

Full titleCCDC 24 (2016), A Guide to Model Forms and Support Documents (for use with CCDC 2, 2008)
PublisherCanadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC), a national joint committee that includes the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, the Canadian Construction Association, the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies, and Construction Specifications Canada
Current edition2016 edition
LanguagesEnglish and French (CCDC publishes its standard documents in both official languages)
Primary audienceOwners, consultants, and contractors using CCDC 2 for stipulated price contracts
ExAC relevanceExamitect's recommended primary reference for four Section 4 objectives across Bidding and Contract Negotiations and Construction Phase Office Functions
Where to accessThrough the CCDC. Check ccdc.org for current access terms.

Why CCDC 24 matters for the ExAC

CCDC 24 is the document the ExAC reaches for when a question asks "which form should the architect issue" or "what information should that form contain." Examitect recommends it as a primary reference for two Bidding and Contract Negotiations objectives (procedures for awarding a contract; evaluating bids) and two Construction Phase Office Functions objectives (the office-function tasks of construction administration; demonstrating the use of administration forms). The official ExAC Preparation Guide does not name CCDC 24, or any CCDC document, in its reference list, so this mapping is Examitect's recommendation.

The language of the exam also tracks the language of CCDC 24. Terms like Proposed Change, Change Order, Change Directive, Supplemental Instruction, Application for Payment, and Certificate for Payment come straight from the model forms in this guide and the General Conditions in CCDC 2. Knowing which instrument fits a given situation is one of the more reliable ways to move from a 60-percent guess to a confident answer on Section 4 questions.

If you only had time to study one CCDC document beyond CCDC 2 itself, this would be it.

How to study CCDC 24 for the ExAC

  • Read the introduction and the table of contents once so you can find any model form by name during a question.
  • Open CCDC 24 and CCDC 2 side by side. Trace each administrative process in CCDC 24 to the numbered General Conditions clause in CCDC 2 that triggers it.
  • Memorize the four change instruments: Proposed Change, Change Order, Change Directive, Supplemental Instruction. Know who signs, when each is issued, and which trigger a cost or schedule change.
  • Walk the payment chain end to end: Application for Payment, Schedule of Values, Statutory Declarations (CCDC 9A and 9B), Certificate for Payment, Certificate of Substantial Performance.
  • Read CHOP Chapters 5.3, 6.5, 6.6, and 6.8 in parallel. They place the CCDC 24 forms inside the architect's wider role on a project.
  • Drill scenario-based practice questions. Most ExAC questions on this document ask you to pick the right form for a situation, not to recite its fields.

Inside CCDC 24: processes and forms

CCDC 24 is organized as a sequence of administrative processes. Each process begins with a short guideline explaining when it is used, followed by a checklist of required content and an example model form. Knowing the shape of the guide saves time during open-book practice and on the exam itself.

ProcessForms coveredWhere it lands on the ExAC
Prequalification of Contractors Contractor's Qualification Statement (CCDC 11, reproduced in Appendix A). Section 4, Bidding and Contract Negotiations objectives 9.3 and 9.4.
Financial Information Required of the Owner Project Financial Information (CCDC 12, reproduced in Appendix B). Section 4, Bidding and Contract Negotiations.
Payment Process Application for Payment, Schedule of Values and Work Performed, Certificate for Payment, and Statutory Declarations (CCDC 9A and 9B in Appendix C), plus a guideline and checklist for the Certificate of Substantial Performance, which has no model form because lien legislation may prescribe the form. Section 4, Construction Phase Office Functions objectives 10.2 and 10.3.
Supplemental Instruction Process Supplemental Instruction Form. Section 4, Construction Phase Office Functions.
Change Process Proposed Change, Change Order, Change Directive, Summary of Changes, and a Combined Proposed Change and Change Order form. Section 4, Construction Phase Office Functions objectives 10.2 and 10.3.
Notification Process Notice Form (the standard format for written notices under the contract). Section 4, Construction Phase Office Functions and Field Functions.
Warranty Notification Warranty Notice and Product Warranty Notice forms. Section 4, Construction Phase Office Functions (project closeout).
Appendices CCDC 11, CCDC 12, CCDC 9A and 9B (standard forms reproduced in full), and the Definitions from CCDC 2 (2008). Reference material used across most Section 4 objectives.

The Change Process and the Payment Process carry the heaviest exam load. Read each as a connected sequence of forms, not as isolated documents.

Key CCDC 24 terms every ExAC candidate should know

CCDC 24 uses the defined terms from CCDC 2 (capitalized throughout the guide). Learn the ones below early so you spend exam time choosing the right form, not parsing the question.

TermWhat it means in CCDC 24
PrequalificationThe process of selecting bidders based on capacity, skill, and experience before issuing tender documents. Supported by CCDC 11.
Proposed ChangeA document the Consultant issues to the Contractor describing a possible change to the Work and requesting a price and schedule impact, without committing to proceed.
Change OrderA document that authorizes a change in the Work and adjusts the Contract Price, Contract Time, or both. The Consultant prepares it and signs the block recommending the change, the Owner signs to approve, and the Contractor signs to accept.
Change DirectiveA written instruction from the Owner, prepared by the Consultant, directing the Contractor to proceed with a change in the Work before the cost or time impact has been agreed.
Supplemental InstructionA written instruction from the Consultant that clarifies the Contract Documents or orders minor adjustments without changing the Contract Price or Contract Time.
Application for PaymentThe Contractor's monthly request for payment, supported by a statement based on the Schedule of Values and any back-up material required for certification. Statutory Declarations accompany second and subsequent applications where required, and the release of holdback.
Certificate for PaymentThe Consultant's written confirmation that an Application for Payment is in order and that the certified amount is owed by the Owner.
Substantial PerformanceThe point in construction, defined by provincial lien legislation, at which the project is sufficiently complete to be used for its intended purpose. CCDC 24 provides a guideline and checklist for the certificate rather than a model form; where the lien legislation prescribes a form, the statutory form is used.
Statutory Declaration (CCDC 9A and 9B)A sworn statement by the Contractor (9A) or a Subcontractor (9B) confirming proper distribution of payment for previously certified work.
Notice in WritingA formal communication issued under the contract, with delivery and content rules set out in CCDC 2 and supported by the Notice Form in CCDC 24.
Warranty NoticeWritten notification to the Contractor of defective Work observed during the one-year warranty period. Under CCDC 2 (2020) GC 12.3.1 that period runs one year from the date Ready-for-Takeover is attained; CCDC 24 was written against CCDC 2 (2008), where it ran from Substantial Performance, and the form itself refers only to the warranty period specified in the Contract Documents.
Project Financial Information (CCDC 12)Information the Owner furnishes at the Contractor's request, before the Agreement is signed and/or during the performance of the Contract, as evidence that financial arrangements are in place to fulfill the Owner's obligations.

Tips for Intern Architects reading CCDC 24

CCDC 24 is short, but dense. If you're early in your internship under the Internship in Architecture Program (IAP) or its provincial equivalent, the tips below help convert reading time into exam-day recall.

Tip 1, study the four change instruments as a set. Proposed Change, Change Order, Change Directive, and Supplemental Instruction are the most common scenario triggers in Section 4. Build a one-page chart showing who issues each, who signs each, and whether each adjusts the Contract Price or Contract Time. Carry it until the distinctions are automatic.

Tip 2, treat the payment process as one chain. Application for Payment, Schedule of Values, Statutory Declarations (9A and 9B), Certificate for Payment, and Certificate of Substantial Performance are not separate topics. Study them as the connected chain they actually form, and the exam questions get easier to read. Remember that Statutory Declarations support second and subsequent applications and the release of holdback, not the first application.

Tip 3, watch the edition gap. CCDC 24 was developed for CCDC 2 (2008), and the current edition of the contract is CCDC 2 (2020). The forms remain in use, but some defined terms and clause numbers have moved. When you study a CCDC 24 form, confirm the related clause in the current CCDC 2 (2020) rather than assuming a one-to-one match.

Tip 4, pair CCDC 24 with CHOP. Examitect pairs CCDC 24 with CHOP Chapters 6.5 and 6.8 for the bidding categories, and with Chapters 5.3, 6.6, and 6.8 for the office-function categories. CHOP explains the architect's role in the process; CCDC 24 supplies the form. Reading them together is faster than reading them separately.

Tip 5, write your own one-page form summary. For each model form, write one page in your own words covering when it is used, who issues it, who signs it, and what it triggers. The act of writing the summary forces recall in a way that re-reading does not.

Tip 6, ask to see real forms at work. Many firms keep CCDC 24 model forms (or in-house adaptations) on every construction file. Ask your supervising architect to walk you through a recent Change Order or Certificate for Payment package. The conversation gives you a scenario you can anchor exam answers to.

Tip 7, recognize Notice in Writing as a formal step. Many Section 4 questions hinge on whether a written notice was required, who issued it, and within what time window. CCDC 24's Notice Form sits at the centre of that workflow; the answer often turns on Article A-6 of the CCDC 2 Agreement, which sets the delivery rules, and on the specific General Condition that requires the notice, such as GC 5.1, GC 6.4 to 6.6, Part 7, GC 8.3 (Negotiation, Mediation and Arbitration), GC 12.3 (Warranty), or GC 13.1 to 13.2 (Indemnification and Waiver of Claims) in CCDC 2 (2020). CCDC 24 lists these under the older CCDC 2 (2008) numbering, where they were GC 8.2 and GC 12.1 to 12.3, so check the clause number against the edition in front of you.

Common ExAC scenarios where CCDC 24 is the answer

These question types come up across ExAC sittings. If you see one, your first instinct should be to ask "which CCDC 24 form fits this situation?"

  • The Owner wants to add a small scope item and asks the architect to confirm cost impact before proceeding. Which instrument is appropriate, and what happens if the Contractor disagrees with the price?
  • The Owner instructs the Contractor to proceed with extra work before the price has been agreed. What document does the Consultant prepare, and how is the cost ultimately settled?
  • The Consultant needs to clarify a drawing discrepancy that does not change cost or time. Which form is correct, and what makes it different from a Change Order?
  • The Contractor's second Application for Payment arrives without the Statutory Declaration required as a condition of payment. What is the Consultant's responsibility before issuing the Certificate for Payment?
  • The project reaches Substantial Performance. What does CCDC 24's guideline and checklist require the certificate to include, and what does the certified date trigger under provincial lien legislation?
  • The Owner wants to prequalify three contractors before tender. Which form do bidders complete, and what categories of information does it gather?
  • A defect appears nine months after Ready-for-Takeover, inside the one-year warranty period under CCDC 2 (2020) GC 12.3.1. Which notice does the Consultant issue, and to whom?

Each scenario points back to a specific CCDC 24 model form. Knowing which form fits is most of the answer; the form's content is the rest.

How CCDC 24 compares to other ExAC references

CCDC 24 sits next to the practice and contract references on Examitect's ExAC reading list. Use the comparison below to decide which document answers a given question.

ReferenceWhat it is forHow CCDC 24 relates
CCDC 24Administrative processes and model forms for use with CCDC 2: prequalification, payment, supplemental instructions, changes, notices, and warranty.The form library and process map that CCDC 2 points to.
CCDC 2The standard stipulated price contract between owner and contractor: Agreement, Definitions, and General Conditions.CCDC 24's forms exist to satisfy the processes that CCDC 2 references. Read them as one pair.
CHOPThe Royal Architectural Institute of Canada's handbook on architectural practice in Canada, including the architect's role in bidding and construction.Chapters 5.3, 6.5, 6.6, and 6.8 of CHOP frame the workflow; CCDC 24 supplies the forms that carry it out.
RAIC Document 6Standard form of contract between client and architect, plus its Supplementary Agreement.Different parties. Document 6 governs the owner-architect relationship; CCDC 24 supports the owner-contractor relationship.
RAIC Document 9Standard form of contract between architect and consultant.Different parties again. Document 9 governs the architect's sub-consultants; CCDC 24 governs forms used on the owner-contractor side of the project.
NBC 2020The national model building code covering technical compliance requirements.Different jobs. The NBC carries code provisions; CCDC 24 carries contract administration forms.
RSMeans and YardsticksConstruction cost data for early-stage estimating.Different jobs. Cost data feed the budget; CCDC 24 forms carry the money through certified payments during construction.

How Examitect reinforces CCDC 24

Reading CCDC 24 is one half of the work. The other half is recognizing the right form under timed pressure. Examitect's question bank pulls heavily from CCDC 24 for Section 4 questions on bidding procedures and construction office functions. Each answer explanation cites the relevant CCDC 24 process and the related CCDC 2 clause, so you can re-read just the pages you need rather than the whole guide.

You also get scenario-based questions that put the CCDC 24 model forms into a real project context, full-length mock exams that mirror ExAC pacing, and free study notes for every section. Try a few sample questions first, then check pricing when you want the full bank.

FAQ

CCDC 24 FAQ

CCDC 24 (2016) is the Canadian Construction Documents Committee's Guide to Model Forms and Support Documents for use with CCDC 2. It explains the administrative processes referenced by CCDC 2 and provides model forms for prequalification, payment, supplemental instructions, change management, notifications, and warranty notices.

Yes, for parts of Section 4. Examitect recommends CCDC 24 as a primary reference for two Bidding and Contract Negotiations objectives (procedures for awarding a contract; evaluating bids) and two Construction Phase Office Functions objectives (office-function tasks; use of administration forms). The official ExAC Preparation Guide names only CHOP, the IAP, NBC 2020, and NECB 2020 as reference documents, so the pairing is ours rather than the guide's.

Section 4 (Construction and practice). CCDC 24 supports Bidding and Contract Negotiations and Construction Phase Office Functions. Examitect does not treat it as a primary reference for any Section 1, 2, or 3 category.

The current edition is CCDC 24 (2016), and that is the edition Examitect recommends. It was developed for use with CCDC 2 (2008), but the model forms remain in use for projects administered under the newer CCDC 2 (2020) contract.

CCDC 2 is the standard stipulated price contract between owner and contractor. CCDC 24 is the guide that explains the administrative processes CCDC 2 refers to and provides example model forms for those processes, such as Application for Payment, Change Order, Change Directive, and Notice.

CCDC 11 is the Contractor's Qualification Statement, a standard form used to collect information on the capacity, skill, and experience of contractors bidding on a project. It is reproduced in Appendix A of CCDC 24 and supports the prequalification process.

CCDC 12 is the Project Financial Information standard form. The owner furnishes it at the contractor's request, before the contract is signed and/or during its performance, as evidence that financial arrangements are in place to pay for the work. It is reproduced in Appendix B of CCDC 24.

CCDC 9A and 9B are the Statutory Declaration standard forms. CCDC 9A is the contractor's declaration of progress payment distribution; CCDC 9B is the subcontractor's declaration. Both are reproduced in Appendix C of CCDC 24 and support the payment process.

Keep exploring

Other ExAC reference books.

CCDC 24 is one supporting reference inside Examitect's larger Section 4 reading list. Continue with the rest.

CHOP

Canadian Handbook of Practice. The practice spine of Section 4 and a primary reference for almost every Section 4 category.

CCDC 2

The standard stipulated price contract that CCDC 24 supports. Study them as a pair.

RAIC Document 6

Standard form of contract between client and architect, with its Supplementary Agreement tested in Section 4.

RAIC Document 9

Standard form of contract between architect and consultant, used for sub-consultant agreements.

CHING

Building Construction Illustrated. The visual reference for assemblies, materials, and detailing across Sections 1 and 3.

NBC 2020

National Building Code of Canada. The primary reference for every category in ExAC Section 2.

NECB

National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings. Supports the envelope and energy questions in Section 2.

RSMeans

RSMeans Cost Data. North American construction cost data, used for Section 1 Cost Management questions.

Yardsticks

Hanscomb Yardsticks for Costing. Canadian elemental cost data by building type and region, for Section 1 Cost Management.

Supporting references

Examitect's extended reading list of supporting references across all four ExAC sections.